One tiny, and obvious, adjustment has NY Giants QB Eli Manning on track for his best season in years

Eli Manning, who has been plagued by interceptions throughout his career, says he’s staying patient early on in the new offense and is using a tool that he hasn’t always embraced — throwing the ball away. (Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News)

The most important play in the Giant playbook? Forget the slant or the screen; it's Eli Manning with the throwaway.

For all the new targets the Giants have given Manning, the team has also rewired its gambling, gun-slinging quarterback's mentality, constantly reminding him that it's OK to throw it away. The purpose is to avoid costly sacks and game-changing interceptions.

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"If we have to throw the ball away, then that isn't always the worst play," new QB coach Danny Langsdorf told the Daily News. "That might be the best decision on a particular play, because it's the only one he has that's a good option.

"There's definitely been a lot of talk about when we're going to move onto the next receiver on a progression, or whether or not the defense is taking that away. And what do we do next? That's the biggest thing. Do we move onto a receiver, do we have time? Or do we throw the ball away?"

It's been a philosophical adjustment for Manning, who for years chased big downfield plays and counted on his receivers to win one-on-one battles. But now, he's dumping off more, taking shorter completions, and it's why he's on pace to throw for a career-high 36 TDs and just 15 picks, and why he's completing 66.3% of his passes, easily a career best.

Giants quarterbacks coach Danny Langsdorf (c.) shockingly predicted in the preseason that Eli Manning could complete 70 percent of his passes this season. Through five games, the number doesn’t appear so outrageous. (Corey Sipkin/New York Daily News)

"We're just staying patient when things don't go well," Manning said. "We've had things going better so we can stay patient and not get all uptight and worry. Eventually, we'll start making some plays and start scoring more points."

This is all far different than the way Manning used to operate. He made a career out of gutsy throws that found their mark, and last year, he threw the ball up for grabs more than he threw it out of bounds. Sure, he had 25 throwaways in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus, but he still fought to make too many plays that weren't there on his way to 27 interceptions, still held the ball so long that he absorbed a career-worst 36 sacks.

Eli Manning is on pace for a career-high 36 touchdowns this season. (Robert Sabo/New York Daily News)

This year, Manning has thrown the ball away just three times, according to Pro Football Focus, but he understands that it's an ever-present option. Langsdorf, who in training camp dared to suggest that Manning should chase a 70% completion mark (and doesn't look so far off now), said it's been an "ongoing" conversation with Manning to simply get rid of the ball when nothing is there.

Manning has been taught to use his feet and his dropback as his internal clock. Forget trying to hang in against linebackers and waiting for a receiver to come open; if something isn't there as he finishes his drop, he's supposed to look elsewhere, or start pondering that throwaway.

"We're making sure we're not trying to force anything," Langsdorf said. "That we're taking what the defense is giving you, and by coverage and by defensive looks that we're making sure we're making good decisions. The throwaways, we've got that as if he doesn't have anything downfield then there's a time and a place so that's what he wants to do."